Ben Sasse on Budget & Economy

Dysfunctional Congress hasn't passed budget in 6 years

Q: With the new Republican Senate majority, what can be done to demonstrate that the Congress is no longer dysfunctional?

SASSE: Well, first we have to pass a budget. There's only been one budget passed in the last six years, so obviously,
we need to demonstrate an ability to govern. But we also need to admit that the big challenges facing this country aren't going to be solved in the next 24 months. We need to set the stage for a 2016 presidential election.

Source: ABC This Week 2015 interviews by Martha Raddatz
, Jan 4, 2015

Raising debt ceiling ok if part of long-term reform

Q: Will you support raising the debt ceiling?

SASSE: Obviously a country that functions needs to pay its bills. But we need to have a long-term conversation about actually dealing with all the structural insolvency in our entitlement programs. The debt
ceiling is less than a quarter of the real problem. The unfunded obligations in our entitlement programs are three and four times--

Q: So it sounds like you would vote for it?

SASSE: As a part of a down payment on a long-term reform, absolutely.

Source: ABC This Week 2015 interviews by Martha Raddatz
, Jan 4, 2015

Reform entitlement programs & live within our means

Government should be promoting prosperity, protecting property, and practicing frugality, rather than spawning dependency, redistributing wealth, and spending recklessly. What does this mean?

Longstanding and essential entitlement programs should
be reformed and thereby preserved, while unaffordable, new entitlement programs must be repealed.

Government should live within its means and should not unfairly shackle one generation with the debts of another.